Container protective wrapper



1966 F. J. FILLWALK ETAL 3,235,112

CONTAINER PROTECTIVE WRAPPER I Filed 001;. 2, 1965 FOOD INVENTORS FILLWALK POTTEIQ United States Patent O 3,235,112 CONTAINER PROTECTIVE WRAPPER Frank J. Fillwalk, Chicago, and Arnel D. Potter, Chicago Heights, Ill., assignors to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 313,213 3 Claims. (Cl. 215 --7) The invention relates to a new and improved form of protective Wrapper for a container having a seal defining area, and further deals with a new and improved secondary seal type protective wrapper applied in a special manner to a suitable type of container. More specifically, the invention is directed to a new and improved form of protective wrapper including a formable film portion designed for container surface engaging and conforming application, the film being fixed to the container within the main body portion of the container at least partially remote from the seal area thereof, the fixed engagement including anchoring means which perferably is in the form of a label applied to the container and extending thereabout in engagement with the lowermost marginal portion of the film.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved form of container protective wrapper which is capable of being applied to a container by use of conventional labeling equipment, the wrapper establishing a secondary seal in the seal area of the container for insect and tamper proofing thereof.

Still a further object is to provide a new and improved form of protective wrapper for application to a container, the wrapper being in the form of a composite label and film article with the label portion thereof at least assisting in the anchoring of a marginal portion of the film to a container, the film extending substantially outwardly of a side margin of the label and sufiiciently. to overlie the seal area of a container for tight conform ing engagement therewith.

A further object is to provide a new and improved combination of container and protective Wrapper with the wrapper being applied to the container in accordance with conventional label application procedures, the wrapper basically including an anchoring means in the form of a label to which a heat-shrinkable film is attached, the film extending upwardly from the label into surrounding relation with the seal area of the container for ready heat shrinking about the seal area into tight conforming engagement therewith to establish an insect and tamper proof secondary seal.

An additional object is to provide a new and improved form of protective wrapper which is readily fabricated, readily applied to a container in accordance with conventional labeling practices, and is readily sealed to the cap portion of a container in an uncomplicated and economical manner.

Other objects not specifically set forth will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a container with one form of protective wrapper of the invention initially applied thereto prior to heat shrinking of the film of the wrapper ice into sealed relation with the capped portion of the container;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the container following heat shrinking of the film portion of the protective wrapper;

FIG. 3 is a plan view on reduced scale of another form of protective wrapper illustrated prior to application thereof to a container; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse section of the wrapper of FIG. 3 as viewed generally along line 4-4 therein.

The protective wrapper of the invention basically comprises an elongate band-type anchor means, preferably in the form of a container label, and a heat-shrinkable film fixed to the anchor means and extending substantially therefrom beyond one side margin of the anchor means for encircling coverage of the top portion of a container including the seal area thereof when the anchor means or label is applied to the container in the conventional manner. The film portion of the wrapper is preferably at least substantially co-extensive with the anchor means or label longitudinally thereof and is of sufficient length for mutual opposite marginal sealing to thereby establish a completely surrounding and longitudinally sealed sleevelike protective wrapper which upon the application of heat will shrink into tight conforming relation with the portion of the container between the label and the seal area of the container and at least the critical portion of the seal area. This form of wrapper has particular application with capped containers as the shrinking of the film about at least a side margin of the cap provides a secondary seal co-extensive with the critical seal area of the container to protect the same from insects and further provide a readily observable indication of attempted tampering. The latter protective feature is of particular importance in the merchandising of baby food, and the provision of a wrapper safeguard of this type with such products provide a means by which the purchaser can be assured that the cap has not been removed and the contents exposed to contamination.

While the use of heat shrinkable films to provide secondary seals in various types of containers, particularly bottles and the like, is well known, it has generally been the practice to apply a film band which shrinks upon drying to a bottle type container as a completely separate manufacturing step thus materially adding to the cost of the final product. With the special protective wrapper of the present invention, the heat-shrinkable film portion is combined with a suitable anchoring means which preferably is the container label, the combination being used to permit ready application of the protective film to the container during the conventional labeling phase of the container processing. Furthermore, the protective wrapper of the invention has special application with relatively compact or squat jar type containers which are normally handled by the grasping of the main body portion of the jar in the label area. Attempting to apply a shrinkable film as a protective wrapper to this type of container creates certain difficulties as the protective film must be suitably fixed to the container so that it cannot be readily dislodged or otherwise damaged during normal handling of the product. With the anchoring of the film relative to the container preferably through the use of the conventional label means, the film is efiiciently secured to the container and will not be dislodged or otherwise damaged during normal handling of the container.

FIG. 1 illustrates a jar type container 1t} provided at the top thereof With an inwardly extending shoulder portion 11 which terminates in an upwardly opening annular neck portion 12 on which is formed interrupted threads for the application of a known type of lug cap 14 thereto. The jar may be formed from glass or the like and the cap 14 is of any suitable type capable of establishing a hermetic seal to protect the contents of the jar. The container illustrated is a typical baby food container which is normally subject to grasping for handling purposes in the central portion of the jar 10.

Applied to the jar 10 is a composite label and film wrapper 15 including an elongate band-type label 16 formed from suitable paper stock and carrying suitable product identifying indicia thereon. A heat-shrinkable film 17 is suitably fixed to the label 16 and extends substantially therefrom upwardly beyond the side margin of the label in encircling coverage of the top portion of the jar 10 including the shoulder portion 11, the exposed area of the neck portion 12 and at least a part of the exposed side margin of the cap 14.

In the form of the wrapper 15 illustrated in FIG. 1, the film 17 is coextensive with the label longitudinally thereof and fully overlies the outer surface of the label in rotective covering relation. The film 17 may be of any suitable type capable of collapsing or shrinking as a result of the application of heat. Such a film can be readily fixed to the paper stock label 16 by use of a suitable adhesive or by heat sealing or fusing. End margins 18 of the label 16 and end margins 19 of the film are mutually overlapped so that the label and film completely encircles the jar 10 and cap 14. The overlapping end margins of the label 16 may be readily fixed to one another by use of an adhesive or the like or the presence of the intermediate film layer in the overlapping area may be sufiicient to establish a heat seal. The overlapping end margins of the film 19 above the label 16 may be readily heat sealed to one another or may be engaged through a suitable adhesive interface.

The wrapper 15 is applied to the jar 1%) using conventional labeling equipment, the inner surface of the label 16 being suitably fixed to the jar 10 through an adhesive coating. Upon application of the Wrapper as illustrated in FIG. 1, the label 16 is fixed to the jar 10 thus anchoring the film 17 about the upper portion of the jar and cap. Heating of the film 17 will result in the free upper portion thereof shrinking or collapsing into relatively tight overlying engagement with the adjacent surface portions of the jar and cap such as in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The finished product as illustrated in FIG. 2 includes the collapsed film 17 completely overlying and sealing off the seal area of the jar. The extent to which the film portion engages this seal area may be varied considerably depending upon the nature of the film used and the ease of film separation and removal for purposes of cap removal. In this respect then, FIG. 2 merely illustrates one form of complete secondary sealing of the seal area of the container.

The presence of the lower portion of the film 17 over the outer surface of the label 16 protects the label from scufiing or the like thus affording an additional advantageous use for the film 17. However, in the practice of the invention it is not necessary that the film 17 be applied to the outer surface of the label 16 in protective relation therewith, although such arrangement constitutes a preferred aspect of the invention. As long as a sutficient portion of the film 17 is suitably fixed to the label 16 so that the label functions as a film anchoring means, a broad purpose of the invention is served.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a modified form of composite label and film wrapper 2th of a type illustrating the broad concept of film anchoring. The wrapper 21 includes a label 21 of suitable paper stock or the like to which a heat-shrinkable film 22 is suitably attached along adjacent overlapping marginal portions. FIG. 4 illustrates a coat of a suitable adhesive 23 along the inner surface of the label 21 and by means of which the overlapping bottom margin of the film 22 is fixed to the label 21. In this respect the film portion of the wrapper may fully overlie the inner surface of the label if desired, the film being suitably fixed to the jar It) by adhesive or heat sealing during the labeling operation.

The particular jar 1t illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 including the shoulder portion 11 and neck portion 12 provides a rather irregular seal area for heat-shrinkable film application. Attempting to follow the practices of the prior art results in the creation of problems in properly fixing and aligning a film strip in the exact area of application. By combining the film with the label or other suitable anchoring means which can be readily applied to the main body portion of the jar 19, these problems are overcome and exact positioning of the protective film is obtained at all times. While for the foregoing reasons the special form of protective Wrapper of the invention is particularly adapted for use with the specific type of container illustrated, it will neveretheless be appreciated that the wrapper of the invention has general application with many different types of containers. However, with the shoulder type jar illustrated the application of the protective film in the complete area of the shoulder portion 11 further prevents the accumulation of any foreign matter directly on the jar itself. Thus, dust or any other contaminatin substance which might collect on the jar 1% or cap 14 is completely removed when the protective wrapper is removed and the jar is thus fully protected from contaminants as well as being tamper proof.

Any suitable heat-shrinkable film may be used. Examples of such films include polyethylene, polypropylene, Mylar and Videne. Each of these films may be suitably collapsed about the container upon the application of heat to the film ranging from about 275 F. to 425 F., the heat being applied for approximately 5 seconds. Of course substantial time and temperature variations are available and the heat shrinking of films of these types is well known. The temperature application can be accomplished following different suitable procedures. For example, residual heat in the package after retorting of baby food or the like may be sufiicient to collapse certain of the films. Thus a heated, filled and capped jar may have sufficient residual heat to provide for substantially immediate collapsing of the film following wrapper application at the labeling station of the process. Otherwise, the sealed containers may be passed through a flame immediately prior to label application with the jar 10 being heated sufficiently to provide for collapsing of the film. A suitable heat tunnel may also be used which would involve the continuous movement of capped jars therethrough following label application.

Conventional label application adhesives may be used or the film may be heat sealed to the label as mentioned above. In this respect the heating of the film to an extent that slight melting occurs is sufficient to provide for film adherence to the label paper stock for the purposes of the invention. If the film is to overlie the label in protective relation as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a :heat seal or a clear adhesive will be used.

Obviously certain modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination with a container having a central portion, an upper open neck portion and a removable closure means applied to said neck portion in container sealing relation, the provision of an encircling protective wrapper comprising anchoring label means in bandlike arrangement wrapped around and fixed to said container about said central portion below said neck portion, and a protective film attached to said label means and extending upwardly therefrom in tight conforming relation about said, container, said protective film being heat shrunk into tight conforming sealed relation around said container and at least the side margin of said closure means to preclude undetected closure removal.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said container includes a top shoulder portion extending inwardly to said neck portion which is of reduced diameter, said film being in tight conforming engagement with said shoulder portion and any exposed area of said neck portion.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said film is fixed to the outer surface of said label means in overlying protective relation with indicia on said label means.

References Cited by the Examiner JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, GEORGE O. RALSTON,

Examiners. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A CONTAINER HAVING A CENTRAL PORTION, AN UPPER OPEN NECK PORTION AND A REMOVABLE CLOSURE MEANS APPLIED TO SAID NECK PORTION IN CONTAINER SEALING RELATION, THE PROVISION OF AN ENCIRCLING PROTECTIVE WRAPPER COMPRISING ANCHORING LABEL MEANS IN BANDLIKE ARRANGEMENT WRAPPED AROUND AND FIXED TO SAID CONTAINER ABOUT SAID CENTRAL PORTION BELOW SAID NECK PORTION, AND A PROTECTIVE FILM ATTACHED TO SAID LABEL MEANS AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM IN TIGHT CONFORMING RELATION ABOUT SAID CONTAINER, SAID PROTECTIVE FILM BEING HEAT SHRUNK INTO TIGHT CONFORMING SEALED RELATION AROUND SAID CONTAINER AND AT LEAST THE SIDE MARGIN OF SAID CLOSURE MEANS TO PRECLUDE UNDETECTED CLOSURE REMOVAL. 